Talking to your kids about substance abuse and drug prevention is extremely important as drug
use has become a major epidemic nationwide. As parents are already aware, kids soak up the
actions and adapt to the environment around them, so teaching them about the dangers of drugs is very important. As kids get older, they will begin to experience more real-world problems at home and in the classroom. Below we will provide a few tips on talking to your kids about drugs through open communication and education while also rewarding good behavior.
Communication
Open communication is essential for all stages of your children’s life. As a parent, you can
encourage good communication at an early age by assuring your children that they can talk to you about difficult topics like drug use. This will help them to create an open line of communication as they start to become young adults. Make sure you are actively listening to your children, as well as asking them questions about their friends, school environment, etc. Building this type of trust and bond will help you and your children to avoid many problems and put you in a great position to handle issues that are unavoidable.
Education
Educating your kids about drugs may seem a little unusual at first, but it is a topic that they should be aware of. Many schools start drug prevention education in elementary school, so it’s
important that you are simultaneously following up with this education to ensure your kids
understand why it is so important. Educate your children on drug facts, and prepare them for
situations they may face in the near future, such as peer pressure. Peer pressure can happen at
any age, and talking to your kids about this will help them be more aware of these types of situations and learn how to say “no.”
Social Media
Many aspects of social media can make your children more aware of drug use. As they watch
tv, movies and use multiple social media platforms, your child will likely see the glamorization of drugs and alcohol use. These images can quickly become instilled into your children’s brain, so let them know ahead of time that what they see on tv is not acceptable behavior. They should also be aware of the consequences they will face if they choose to imitate pop culture and start experimenting with drugs.
Rewarding Good Behavior
If your children practice these good behaviors and come to you for guidance, reward them! This
will help your kids to understand what is right by providing positive reinforcement. When
they make good choices and choose to spend their time working hard towards a good, healthy future, let them know that you are proud of them. Reassurance goes a long way toward helping them to make good decisions and say no to drugs.
Having age-appropriate conversations and following these practices can make a world of
difference when you are talking to your kids about drugs. As children may end up in difficult
situations that they do not expect, it’s important that parents to do their best to prepare them beforehand. So talk to your children about drug use if you have not done so already. The right guidance can make all of the difference in helping your children to secure a happy, healthy and successful future.
